Wisconsin Public Internet Struggles Against Telecom, Legislature

Posted by Soulskill on Monday June 13, 2011 @05:16AM from the always-two-there-are dept.

An anonymous reader writes with this snippet from Ars Technica: "The University of Wisconsin's Internet technology division and a crucial provider of 'Net access for Wisconsin's educational system are under attack from that state's legislature and from a local telecommunications association. At issue is the WiscNet educational cooperative. The non-profit provides affordable network access to the state's schools and libraries, although its useful days may be numbered unless the picture changes soon. Under a proposed new law, the University of Wisconsin system could be forced to return millions of dollars in federal broadband grants that it has already won, spend far more money on network services, and perhaps even withdraw from the Internet2 project."

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Re:WTF is it with these Telcos? by oh_my_080980980 · 2011-06-13 05:40 · Score: 0, Flamebait

Hey moron, the Telcos are not a government mandated monopoly. In many Cities they are a franchise. They strike exclusive deals with the city. That means in exchange for NO COMPETITION in the city, they promise to have reasonable rates, service the entire area, and privide a franchise fee.

The Telcos pushed for the exclusivity not the government.